About this Cycle Tour

Want to experience three of South East Asia's most fascinating countries? We love the way SpiceRoads Saigon to Bangkok tour uses local guides to introduce the very best of these extraordinary cultures. Journey from the iconic Mekong Delta to the spiritual temples of Angkor Wat. Ride along quite backroads, and cross mighty rivers. From shining capitals and colonial relics to tribal trails and humble homesteads. Your next incredible journey awaits.

Vibrant culture, friendly people and the hustle and bustle of Saigon. There is no better way to begin an Asian odyssey than by immersing yourself in one of Asia's busiest capitals. Leaving the city streets behind, travelling by bike through the serene plantations will let you glimpse a different side of Vietnamese life. Eat at the floating market, or shoot the breeze with a local fisherman, get a true taste of village life.

From what is now Cambodia, the Khmer empire once dominated South East Asia, with Angkor at its heart. Its fascinating and sometimes bloody tales are the fabric of the regions rich tapestry. Phnom Penh's colonial buildings are just the start of the story, as we wind our way through road, river and lake to amazing Angkor and temples that defy belief. At journeys end, Thailand's beautiful beaches and smiling Buddhist monks offer a welcome sight for weary travellers.

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Itinerary

Day 1

Meet in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) for dinner at the enchanting Temple Club Restaurant.

Day 2

Transfer to Ben Tre, the gateway to the Mekong Delta, to start riding down narrow roads and lanes, past banana plantations and fields of sugarcane, across rivers to Tra Vinh a pretty tree-lined town.

Day 3

There is plenty to observe today - fishermen, village life, temples -- as we cycle scenic roads, crossing many small bridges, to Can Tho.

Day 4

After visiting Cai Rang floating market, our first part of cycling will be mainly through the quaint countryside. After lunch, we transfer to Ba Chuc, visiting a Killing Fields of Vietnam then continuing loop cycling and some hilly ride before a short transfer to the hotel.

Day 5

We rest our legs as we boat it up the Mekong River to Phnom Penh.

Day 6

From Phnom Penh, we cycle on back roads to Oudong, a former capital of Cambodia. We then transfer to Kampong Thom.

Day 7

After a morning visit to the ancient temple site of Sambor Prey Kuk we saddle up for a beautiful ride through paddy fields and small villages to Siem Reap.

Day 8

We ride to the Angkor Temple complex before starting the Grand Circuit, stopping at each major temple area before riding back to Siem Reap.

Day 9

We enter the temple complex by a much quieter gate and ride into the countryside. We turn off the main tourist road to Banteay Srei, visiting Ban-teay Samre on the way.

Day 10

We have another break from riding and visit a floating village before heading across Tonle Sap to Battambang.

Day 11

We saddle up and ride south to Pailin along an undulating road, crossing streams over bridges and really get a feeling of riding into unchartered territory.

Day 12

It's a short pleasant ride on quiet scenic roads to the Thai border, and then we ride through the countryside to the beach.

Day 13

We have a flat and easy ride through mangroves, shrimp farms, and along the coast.

Trip Profile

The road surfaces on this tour are mixed. We ride a combination of good quality tarmac, wide dirt tracks, and broken roads that are sometimes badly potholed but easily navigable by bike. The terrain is predominantly flat. Only on a few days do we cover longer distances (90-95 km), so experienced riders will find the distances long enough to challenge them, while less experienced riders are easily able to travel at a more relaxed pace.

On this trip, there is a lot to see as we ride alongside rivers, villages, orchards, and rice fields. We have three days when we travel by boat, adding variety and a chance for weary legs to recover.

Suitability: This trip is suitable for anyone with a reasonable level of fitness. This trip is not too arduous, and so riders with less experience are more than welcome, although the fitter you are, the more you will enjoy it.

Biking Conditions: This tour follows a mixture of good condition tarmac road to pot-holed or broken ones and vehicle-width dirt paths. No off-road riding experience required. A support truck is almost always available to help when required, except on some parts of the very narrow paths of the Vietnam Delta. But you will always have your guides with you at all times.

Day 1 Meet in Ho Chi Minh City

We meet at our hotel in Ho Chi Minh City (please contact us if you need rooms or flights from Bangkok). We spend the day unboxing and testing bikes and give you some time to explore the city. In the evening, we dine at the enchanting Temple Club Restaurant.

Northern Hotel

Dinner

Day 2 Ho Chi Minh - Tra Vinh

After breakfast, we transfer a couple of hours out of Ho Chi Minh to Ben Tre - the gateway to the Mekong Delta. Today’s ride will lead you right into the heart of rural Mekong, as you pedal down narrow roads and lanes, past banana plantations and fields of sugarcane. A section of biking takes us off road onto gravel and dirt lanes, weaving through hamlets, across rivers, and through quite thick vegetation; this makes for superb biking. A final ferry crossing takes to Tra Vinh, a pretty tree-lined town home to many ethnic Khmers.

Cuu Long Hotel

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Ride 65km

+249m

-254m

Day 3 Tra Vinh - Can Tho

The route today is peaceful, and the road is scenic all the way to our destination of Can Tho. There is plenty to see along the way from contrasting architectural styles of Khmer homes and temples to the rich and colourful river scenes when crossing many small bridges.

Ninh Kieu 2 Hotel

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Ride 92km

+341m

-339m

Day 4 Can Tho - Chau Doc

A morning visit to Cai Rang Floating market sets the mood for our cycle through the Mekong Delta. We ride through quaint countryside, under useful Thot Not, or toddy palms. All parts of the Thot Not can be used, from the stem to leaves and the fruit. Once reaching Thoi Lai, we transfer to lunch. We can relax after lunch as we have a one-hour transfer to Ba Chuc, where we will have a sombre visit to the Killing Fields of Vietnam, where Pol Pot’s regime massacred over 3,000 Vietnamese in 1978. We then loop around Ba Chuc along the Cambodian border and ride the rest of the way to Chau Doc, along incredible country roads. We cycle directly to Sam Mountain, which is more of a hill, where we arrive in time for sundowners and take in the setting sun over the rice fields. A very short transfer takes us to our hotel.

Chau Po Hotel

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Ride 70km

+365m

-367m

Day 5 Chau Doc – Phnom Penh

Cruise up the Mekong River to Phnom Penh from our overnight stop at Chau Doc. We get a chance to rest our legs as we see many scenes of local daily life along one of Asia’s great rivers. As we head into Cambodia, we stop at the capital Phnom Penh before heading north to cycle among 1,000 years of Khmer history. In the afternoon, we visit Tuol Sleng Prison (S21) and the Killing Fields to learn about Cambodia's turbulent past under the Khmer Rouge regime.

Frangipani Royal Palace Hotel

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6 Phnom Penh - Oudong - Kampong Thom

We have a late start to give you time to explore Phnom Penh. We then transfer out of Cambodia's capital, stopping for lunch. Afterwards, we start cycling toward Phnom Pra Reach, or Oudong Mountain, the former capital of Cambodia. The 400-plus steps to the top will get the legs working over-time, but the view is worth it! This ride gives us a chance to see rural Cambodia - stilted houses, ox carts, waving children, and, of course, the friendly Khmer people. After our visit, we transfer 3-4 hours to Kampong Thom, where we will overnight.

Sambor Village

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Ride 25km

+83m

-77m

Day 7 Kampong Thom - Siem Reap

We start the day with a short transfer to the ancient temple site of Sambor Prey Kuk. This temple site was constructed in the 7th century and functioned as the capital of the Chenla Empire. After our guided tour through the temples, we have a short transfer to the small town of Damdek, where we offload the bikes and begin cycling toward Siem Reap for 65 km.

Steung Siem Reap Hotel

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Ride 65km

+197m

-194m

Day 8 Angkor Temples

This morning, we start our bike ride to the entrance of Angkor Wat and head to Ta Prohm, famous from the film “Tomb Raider”, deliberately left by French conservationists in the same condition as it was discovered: overgrown by strangler fig and silk-cotton trees, giving it a mystical and romantic appeal. We continue to Angkor Thom, Bayon Temple, and the Terrace of the Elephants. We enjoy lunch at Angkor Café before we explore the biggest religious Hindu edifice in the world - Angkor Wat. Considered the masterpiece of Khmer architecture, this Vishnuite temple is the king’s funerary temple, which is why the temple faces west. Inside the temple, the walls are covered with carvings and bas-reliefs depicting Hindu mythology and the wars Suryavarman II fought during his reign. After our visit to these magnificent temples, we cycle back the 7 km to Siem Reap.

Steung Siem Reap Hotel

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Ride 30km

+190m

-190m

Day 9 Banteay Srei

After breakfast, we head onwards to Banteay Srei. We cycle through rural countryside to this famous temple which has the best-preserved bas-reliefs and stone carvings in Cambodia. The temple is small in size, but of huge significance in understanding the Angkor Era. From here, we continue cycling on rural roads, taking a break for a restaurant lunch before we reach Kbal Spean, also known as the Valley of 1,000 Lingas. We put the bikes aside for a moderate 3-km trek uphill through jungle to a river bed with submersed carvings and a beautiful waterfall (in rainy season only). After our visit, we return to Siem Reap by vehicle. Dinner is at your leisure.

Steung Siem Reap Hotel

Breakfast, Lunch

Ride 56km

+239m

-184m

Day 10 Siem Reap – Battambang

We take a rest from cycling and transfer across Tonle Sap by boat. Along the way, we’ll see the local people going about their daily lives, and if we’re lucky, we can spot some wildlife on the banks. During the end of the dry season, lake levels may be too low to allow boat passage to Battambang. In this case, we’ll transfer by van to Battambang. But don’t worry, once we arrive, we’ll have some time to explore the city and surrounding countryside.

Steung Sangke Hotel

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 11 Battambang - Pailin

We depart for Pailin, cycling directly from our hotel. This is the toughest day as some sections of the road is in poor condition and bumpy (in dry season, can get dusty), but the scenery is the most impressive as we head towards Thailand. The road undulates as we get closer to Pailin, but there is nothing too steep or long. We cycle through stunning countryside, where farms and local villages can be seen along the way, and really get a feeling of riding into unchartered territory. This used to be bandit country, but don’t worry, the area is now completely safe!

Memoria Palace

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Ride 95km

+625m

-433m

Day 12 Pailin - Chantaburi

A short pleasant ride on the quiet scenic roads to the border crossing. This quiet rural crossing used mainly by local traders makes for a pleasant stop while we complete all the immigration formalities. Once these have been completed, we ride through the Thai countryside till we reach the main road and transfer with a change of guides, vehicle, and bikes to the beach, with lunch in Chantaburi.

Chanchalao Beach Resort

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Ride 44km

+376m

-365m

Day 13 Chantaburi - Laem Mae Phim

We have a flat and easy ride through mangroves, shrimp farms, and along the coast. We overnight at a very local Thai beach and have the afternoon free to go for a swim or a walk on the sand.

Aksorn Rayong

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Ride 65km

+251m

-245m

Day 14 Laem Mae Phim – Bangkok

We have the morning to enjoy the beach before we head back to Bangkok. We arrive in the city around 3 pm. IF you'd like to extend your time in Thailand we can help you to plan extra days at the beach or a nearby island.

Breakfast

Nuts & Bolts

Bikes

Because some people can't imagine going on a trip without their own beloved bicycle, we do not provide them as part of this tour. However, you can hire bikes locally for the price listed in the tour pricing section. The bikes are well-known makes of mountain bikes with lightweight alloy frames, 24- to 27-speed gearing, v-brakes, and Shimano components and front suspension. If you bring your own bike, please make sure it is a mountain bike, preferably with front suspension, in good mechanical order.

Bike Repairs

Basic spares and tools are carried by the guide and on the support vehicle, though we cannot guarantee having spares for every conceivable problem. Carrying a basic tool kit, a spare tube and a pump while riding is recommended.

Safety

Wearing a helmet is required on all our biking adventures and is non negotiable. If you do not wear a helmet you will not be allowed to cycle. Your tour leader is trained in first aid and emergency rescue, but to a large degree you must be responsible for your own safety while riding. It is therefore compulsory that you take out travel insurance that will cover you for a mountain biking tour.

Guides

You will be led by a local English-speaking guide and if the group is 9 people or more we will add another guide to the tour. All our guides are well informed in the history, culture and religions of the area where you are biking and are skilled at passing that knowledge on to you. Your guide is also medically trained and an experienced cyclist, able to handle most minor repairs en route.

The Nitty Gritty

Vietnam

Passports and Visas

Please make sure your passport is valid for a minimum of 6 months beyond the duration of stay in Vietnam. Most nationalities require a visa for Vietnam, however 22 nationalities including citizens of UK, France, Germany, Spain and Italy are exempted from visa when entering Vietnam not exceed 15 days, regardless of type of passport and immigration purpose. However they must acquire a tourist visa if staying longer. For a list of countries exempt go to this page.

For 46 nationalities – including Australians, Canadians and Americans – an e-visa can be obtained. This must be applied for and received before departure to Vietnam. To check for the E-visa and tourist fee for single entry and multiple entries please check the Visa fee. You must scan a copy of your photo and passport when applying and get your approval letter of your visa on arrival at international airport of Vietnam. To learn more click Visa process. The processing time is 1-3 working days (not include Saturday,Sunday and Vietnamese holiday).

Alternatively you can obtain a visa to Vietnam from the embassy worldwide. Here is the list of locations. You must specify your arrival date when applying for a visa and it is from this date that the 30 days will be calculated. When picking up your visa check to be sure the dates match your travel plans and that it is stamped directly into your passport as it will not be accepted if it is stapled in.

Health

Recommended vaccinations are typhoid, polio, tetanus and hepatitis A. A certificate for Yellow Fever is required when arriving from an infected area within six days. Vietnam is a malarial area and you will need to take anti-malarial tablets. Please speak to your doctor for the most up to date information.

Weather

Weather in Vietnam is divided into 4 main regions - the far north, north, central and south.

The far north can get very cold in December and January while the dry season runs from October to late March and the wet season between April to September.

In Hanoi & the north, it is hot, wet and humid from May to October while November to April is cooler and dry.

Central Vietnam experiences hot, dry weather between January & August with temperatures ranging in the mid 30°C. High levels of rainfall are during September - November.

Southern Vietnam is dry and hot from November to April, and warm and wet between May & October, with the highest rainfall in June, July & August.

Food

Meals are included as per the itinerary where B = breakfast, L = lunch, D = dinner. Most meals are Vietnamese food and features noodles, rice curries and soups. Vietnamese cuisine is world famous and we make sure you sample as much variety as possible. Any special dietary requirements can also be catered for as well. Please let us know at the time of booking.

Drink

Keeping you completely hydrated is a job we take very seriously. Cold water, some energy-restoring local fruit, and soft drinks are included in the tour price while riding. Soft drinks and other beverages during meals are not included. Beer is freely available everywhere in Vietnam but is NOT included in the price.

Solo Travelers

SpiceRoads does not require you to pay a surcharge for traveling alone. We will arrange for you to share accommodation with another traveler of the same gender and if we can not match you up we will provide a single room at no extra charge. If you prefer not to share a single supplement is payable to guarantee your own room. The cost of the single supplement is listed above.

Extra Expenses

We recommend that you tuck away a few extra dollars, perhaps US$10, for incidentals. It is customary to tip local tour guides and drivers, however, the amount you give should be dependent on the level of service you receive. As a general guide, we suggest US$ 3-4 per person per day is appropriate.

Money

The official national currency is the Vietnam dong (d), but the US dollar is widely accepted in tourist centers. However, in smaller towns and villages the dong is preferred. ATMs are available in all major tourist destinations and big cities. Vietcombank has the best network with a single withdrawal limit of 2,000,000d (about US$125). Most major currencies can be exchanged at leading banks in Vietnam, but the US dollar is preferred away from the tourist centers. Changing US$100 will make you an instant millionaire! You cannot legally take the dong out of Vietnam but you can reconvert reasonable amounts of it into US dollars on departure.

Cambodia

Passports and Visas

All nationalities require a visa and a passport valid for 6 months after their planned exit from Cambodia. A 30-day visa on arrival is available at Phnom Penh and Siem Reap Airports and at some land border crossings. You can also obtain a visa online through e-Visa. There is a 3-day processing time and you'll need a scanned copy of the passport. Not all border crossings accept the e-Visa, please check this port of entry page which provides a list of which checkpoints support the e-Visa service. For a list of consulates/embassies abroad go to this page.

Health

We recommend that you visit a travel medical doctor and ask about the following vaccinations: typhoid, polio, tetanus and hepatitis A. A certificate for Yellow Fever is required when arriving from an infected area within six days.

Weather

Cambodia has two distinct seasons - wet and dry. The dry season usually lasts from October to April. The wet season starts in May until September. Within each season there are variations in temperature. The coolest being 24C around November/December and hottest hitting 35C around April/May.

Food

Meals are included as per the itinerary where B = breakfast, L = lunch, D = dinner. Most meals are local and feature noodles, rice, curries, and soups. Cambodian cuisine is a mixture of Thai, French and Chinese dishes and we make sure you can sample a wide variety. Any special dietary requirements can also be catered for as well. Please let us know at the time of booking.

Drink

Keeping you completely hydrated is a job we take very seriously. Cold water, some energy-restoring local fruit, and soft drinks are included in the tour price while riding. Soft drinks and other beverages during meals are not included. Beer is freely available everywhere but is NOT included in the price.

Solo Travelers

SpiceRoads does not require you to pay a surcharge for traveling alone. We will arrange for you to share accommodation with another traveler of the same gender and if we can not match you up we will provide a single room at no extra charge. If you prefer not to share a single supplement is payable to guarantee your own room. The cost of the single supplement is listed above.

Extra Expenses

We recommend that you tuck away a few extra dollars, perhaps US$20, for incidentals.

Money

Thai baht and US dollars are widely used in Cambodia, especially in larger cities and towns. In smaller towns and villages, Cambodian riels are usually preferred. There are ATMs in most areas, however, machines dispense US dollars. The guides will be able to show you where the ATMs are. Spend riel before departing as no one will exchange them for you once you leave.

Thailand

Passports and Visas

All nationalities require a passport for entry into Thailand. Please ensure your passport is valid for at least 6 months beyond the duration of your stay in the country. If staying less than 30 days then a visa in advance is not required by European, North American, Australian and many other nationalities. Please check this page to see if you qualify. You will need to show proof of an onward flight out of Thailand to be eligible for the visa on arrival. This is strictly enforced.

Health

We recommend that you visit a travel medical doctor and ask about the following vaccinations: typhoid, polio, tetanus and hepatitis A. A certificate for Yellow Fever is required when arriving from an infected area within six days.

Weather

Thailand generally has a tropical climate with fairly high humidity. The North and Central region have a tropical climate with fairly high humidity. Northeast Thailand has a humid hot and dry weather alternatively with medium rain while the coastal areas of the east is humid and hot with intermittent rain. The South of Thailand has a tropical climate with fairly high humidity.

There are three seasons: from March to June it is hot and dry, with temperatures between 27˚C/80 F and 40˚C/104 F, with night temperatures in the 20s. The rainy season is from July to October, but temperatures are slightly lower, because of the effect of the rain. During this time it will not rain continuously, but in sharp bursts, and the sun can come out quickly. The cooler season is from October to February, with average temperatures between 20˚C/68 F and 30˚C/86 F.

Food

Meals are included as per the itinerary where B = breakfast, L = lunch, D = dinner. Most meals are local and feature noodles, rice, curries, and soups. Any special dietary requirements can also be catered for as well. Please let us know at the time of booking.

Drink

Keeping you completely hydrated is a job we take very seriously. Cold water, some energy-restoring local fruit, and soft drinks are included in the tour price while riding. Soft drinks and other beverages during meals are not included. Beer is freely available everywhere but is NOT included in the price.

Solo Travelers

SpiceRoads does not require you to pay a surcharge for traveling alone. We will arrange for you to share accommodation with another traveler of the same gender and if we cannot match you up we will provide a single room at no extra charge. If you prefer not to share a single supplement is payable to guarantee your own room. The cost of the single supplement is listed above.

Extra Expenses

We recommend that you tuck away a few extra dollars, perhaps US$20 per day, for incidentals.

Money

The Thai currency is the baht. ATMs, which are abundant, are the easiest ways to get Thai baht. Have a supply of US dollars in cash on hand, just in case your card doesn’t work. Banks or the rarer private moneychangers offer the best foreign-exchange rates. Credit cards are accepted in big cities and resort hotels but you’ll need baht for family-run guesthouses or restaurants.

General booking info

Booking

If this is the tour for you here's what you need to do to confirm your place: Read our Booking Conditions

From the tour page click the 'Book Now' link. All departures for this tour will appear, just select the date you'd like to travel. There is a minimum number of participants (usually 2) required to enable the trip to go ahead. Once the minimum number is reached, the trip status will change from 'Available' to 'Guaranteed to Depart'. Once a trip is guaranteed to depart you are free to book your flights and make other travel arrangements. If you are unsure about the trip status, please email us or call our office. For the next steps you'll need to know the names of the people traveling and have either a Visa or a MasterCard. If you wish you can also provide extra details such as passport numbers, height, or you can add that later by logging into Manage My Trip (we'll set up an account for you automatically if you don't already have one). However, if you wish to get a children's discount, please do fill out the date of birth of the riders. If you are having any problems, please send us an email, or give us a call (+66 2 381 7490) and one of our travel specialists will assist you with your booking.

Deposit

For Long Tours (7 days or more) to guarantee your place we require a 30% or 500 USD deposit, whichever is the greater. For Short Tours (6 days or less) we require full payment to guarantee your place. We also require that you take out travel insurance when you book your holiday. Besides covering you during your holiday it will also enable you to claim for any money that you have paid to us, including your deposit, should you have to cancel your trip.

Balance

Full payment must be paid 45 days before the departure date with fees for any bicycle rental(s), single supplement(s) and extra hotel nights. Our confirmation will include personal details you provided us (including your flight information), visa application advice, a packing suggestion list and a detailed tour itinerary. It will also include a checklist to ensure you get everything ready for your holiday.

Cancellation Policy

On the rare occasions when we, SpiceRoads, must cancel a trip, all payments received to date will be 100% refunded, which constitutes full settlement. There will be absolutely no deductions. If you, the client, must cancel your reservation, your cancellation fee will be determined according to when you cancel. For full details, please read our cancellation policy.

Loyalty Riders Club

For those who have been on several long tours with us we reward customer loyalty by offering repeat customers a special discount off the tour price (excludes single supplement and bike rental). If this is your fourth scheduled tour or more you will receive a 5% discount. If this is your eighth scheduled tour or more we will extend a 10% discount. The discount will be reflected in your online booking, but please contact us if any questions. Loyalty discounts can not be used in conjunction with any other offer. Note: Only tours of 7 days or more will be applicable for loyalty discount.

International Flights

International flights, to and from the start and finish points are not included in the tour price. Once your tour is Guaranteed to Depart you can book your flight. Please contact us for advice before arranging flights for the best arrival and departure times. We would only cancel a trip for an extreme circumstance, but in that case, where we cancel your trip, we cannot be liable for losses incurred relating to any flight booking you have made. Please claim any losses from your travel insurance that you acquired when you booked your holiday.

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The information in this document is given in good faith, and covers the average range of conditions likely to be found on this trip. Please note that the itinerary is subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances, however, we will always do our best to adhere to this original itinerary